Digital computer and form reader for inventory control and recording cash transactions

ABSTRACT

A digital computer employing hard wired control logic and a rotating memory drum system for inventory control, price changes and cash transactions. If desired, a novel form reader may be employed in conjunction with the computer to sense transactions and, in conjunction with the form itself, to actuate the computer at appropriate times. The computer and form reader are particularly suited for use in eating establishments where transaction speed is required.

United States Patent m1 Dillon et al.

DIGITAL COMPUTER AND FORM READER FOR INVENTORY CONTROL AND RECORDINGCASH TRANSACTIONS Inventors: Neil J. Dillon, Los Angeles; Boris R.

Sincich, Torrance, both of Calif.

Assignee: TRW Data Systems, Inc., Torrance,

Calif.

Filed: May 25, 1972 Appl. No.: 257,059

Related U.S. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 105,497, Jan.17, 1971.

[52] U.S. Cl. 235/613 A, 340/1725 [51] Int. Cl. G06k 1/12 [58] Field ofSearch 340/172.5; 235/613, 235/619 A [56] References Cited UNlTED STATESPATENTS 3.050.248 4/1962 Lindquist 340/1725 X Srovl [451 Aug. 7, 19733,406,387 10/1968 Werme 340/1725 X 3,267,258 8/1966 Bene 340/1725 X3,665.407 5/1972 Negishi 340/1725 Primary ExaminerHarvey Ev SpringbornAttorney-Daniel T. Anderson et a1.

2 Claims, 20 Drawing Figures Insert Form into Reader Render SensesREADER CONT ROL Form (Top Swnchl Feed Form To Read Station i Test AllSense Amps For Edge 0! Form Stop Form Set Amps Fov Edge at Form COMPUTERCONTROL BLOCK Slop Polling- Feed Form Advance Poll Count Look For FlfSIClock Line BLOCK 1 BLOCK 2 Step To Block Look For Second Ciock Line StepTo Block "2" Look For And Store Data BLOCK 5 BLOCK 2 Patented Aug. 7,1973 17 Sheets-Sheet :5

Patented Aug. 7, 1973 17 Sheets-Sheet 4 PRICE 8: TAX CHANGE SAMPLE TESTFORM v .1 i l I t. iii-s 7 1 .1 I. I. I l I!!! u u h a I I a: fi n u aI- l I 2. I. E I I I. I l t. 8. k. H. 5 l. If .i 8 i- F i t. I I. I a. Ei

an m u w a na U fine. um.

Patented Aug. 7, 1973 3,751,637

17 Sheets-Sheet 5 Compufer, Block 0-5) SALES REPORT FOR" I. REM) OUTTOTALS TAX-'- MEMORY ADDRESS (MA) CLERK-'- -OOOO M A. (com-ems) naaamumbum-000 d sbwww '1 ITEMS bbJ-bb-hbbb Omuhnum-Omu (II-b Abba bum-

bbb

b-bbbl! bb-bh mohbu TOTAL RECE! PT JEEEF TO L Fig.8

Patented Aug. 7, 1973 3,751,637

17 Sheets-Sheet 6 (Smn msert Form 41180 Reader Render Senses Form (TopSwitch) Feed Form To Read Station READER CONTROL Test AH Sense Amps ForEdge of Form Stop Form Set Amps For Edge df Form Sop Pollinq- AdvancePoll Feed Form Look For Flrsi Clock Lune COMPUTER CONTROL BLOCK "0' SiepTo Block "I" BLOCK l BLOCK l i Look For Second Clock Line V W i BLOCK 2S'ep To Block "2" Look For And Siore Dom Fig. 9A 5 BLOCK 2 Patented Aug.7, 1973 OPERAT MO DE 1'7 Sheets-Sheet 7 READ a UPDATE MODE BLOCK 2 LookFor Third Clock Line BLOCK 2 Store To! Flog Adv- To Block Se! Print FlogW k Look For Thnrd Look For Third Clock Line Clock Line Adv. ll'o BlockAdv To Block Stop Form Stop Form stop Form Print The Date Print "0" OnRead On Form Form 5 "0" Feed Form BLOCK 3 Tox Row Look For NexT Look ForAnd 'rgr e a Store Dom BLOCK 3 Q Q Look For Ciock Feed Form Llne 4 LookFor And Advflnce T0 Store Dom Block 4 Look For Fourth Increment HemBLOCK 4 Clock Line Count To (1) Patented Aug. 7, 1973 3,751,637

17 Sheets-Sheet 8 Advance T0 Stock "4" Stop Farm BLOCK 4 Cterk umberresent Data Present Advance To Print Data Read Print"0" Form Block "0"On Form On Form WRITE Look For End Prmt Clerk CHANGE PRICES a TAX READClear Counters QUAN' Advance item Cnt n (50) READ TITY TOTALS i CLEARTAXES Look For And Stare First tnLProc (09) Intv Processor Item 0interrupt Processor Stare Address Store Address Fetch Contents StoreClerk F Enable l/O of Address To l/O J t Q READ L oog l Enabte t/OReplace Contents Feed Form Of Address With I Zero's L READ a BLOCK 4 YCLEAR MODE ONLY tncrement Address To Look For Next Clock Line Fig-9CPatented Aug. 7, 1973 17 Sheets-Shaet 1 1 Fig 9F (-1 Add (I) ToTrunsochon BLOCK 5 Count (-I Add RT To GT Add RT To FT Feed Form LookFor Next Move RT To [/0 Feed Form Line Or End Of Form Enable I/O LookFor N Advance Dcnt Clock LIne Feed Form Advance DCni N Look For MenClock Lane Advance Dcnt 810;; Form Pnni Fns! J (MSD) 5 09 Form ClearCounters And Block To (0] v V Pnni Next Dlgn BLOCK 5 Patented Aug. 7,1973 1'? Sheets-Shut 12 1/0 {4/4545 5 wrzmeomrz 03 START UPDATE 50 STARTREAD M-Z .60 374/27 READ 4' CLEAR CONTINUE READ ONLY CONTINUE 1954b 6 CLEAR CONTINUE u DATE START TRANSACT/O/V ITEM OUANT/TYWE'VQANS) ENDTRANSACTION /vo TAX) m1) TkAA S/iii'Z/VFTAX) [MENU/UN? ADMFSS //V5TUC770 11/028 FORMAT z 22 222 2&2

ACCUHULATOR 8515137 3/2 M/H/ T/l/S 3/7 /s A/" .3 406 UN. /5 35/ 5675b.A/l/E/V T///$ 3/7 /5 A "0" A Ace/1M /.s SELECTED.

DIGITAL COMPUTER AND FORM READER FOR INVENTORY CONTROL AND RECORDINGCASH TRANSACTIONS This is a continuation, division, of application Ser.No. l05,497, filed Jan. II, 1971.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a digital computeremploying a rotating drum memory and hard wired control logic and morespecifically to the use of such a computer system in conjunction with akeyboard or a new and novel form reader, to provide an inventory count,tax and price change and a price readout for transactions. The inventionis particularly applicable for use in fast food eating establishmentsand businesses having similar accounting and/or transaction modes.

The present invention also discloses programs or processes for operatingthe computer and the form reader in a simple and unique manner.Basically, the form reader and the process involving its use, isdesigned to sense data and transmit it to the computer, actuate thecomputer to perform specific operations at a given time, and to printout data from the computer using standardized forms. The computerprogram, on the other hand, is designed to operate the arithmeticportion of the computer itself, as well as manipulation and storage ofdata. While interrelated with the form reader operation, the computerprogram involves a separate and distinct function. The concept ofinterrupting the computer using a form itself not only facilitates arapid input and output of data, but also permits a more simpleconstruction and operation of the computer than would otherwise bepossible.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will become moreapparent from the description and the drawings to follow in which:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are block diagrams showing two aspects of the computer ofthe present invention;

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 are schematic perspective views of the form reader unitof this invention;

FIGS. 6 7 and 8 show forms employed to read data into and out of thecomputer;

FIGS. 9 (A-F) shows the program flow command;

FIG. 10 shows the operating codes interrupting address and instructionword format; and

FIGS. 11 (A-D) and 12 show the detailed program flow for the computer.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The block diagram of thecomputer shown in FIG. 1 includes a rotating magnetic drum 10 havingseparate tracks for prices, quantities and a clock track. A and Baccumulators 11,12 are registers which hold numbers to be added while a2 digit C register and running total register 3,14 work together tomaintain a constant count of accumulated dollar amounts. An input-output(l/O) 13,14 buffer 15 is serially loaded recirculating register employedas the primary data interface between and internal computer circuits andthe form reader. An adder circuit 16 is provided to add (or subtract)the addend and augend in the A and B accumulators respectively, theresult of the operation occurring in the adder being recycled back intothe A accumula tor; the B accumulator in an add operation remainsunchanged. Clock pulses from the drum system clock track are forwardedto a clock distribution circuit in which emits these pulses for use indifferent parts in the computer. The arrangement compensates forvariations in memory drum speed when reading data out of the drum. Ashift register 20 (FIG. 2) functioning as a hit counter is employed todivide the digit flow from the drum into digit pulses. A word counter 21receives digit pulses from the bit counter 20 and divides them intodiscrete word pulses, which are continually fed to a coincidence circuit22. A source and destination select circuit 23 is provided to routesignals into and out of the I/O buffer 15, accumulators, registers andthe drum.

The logic and sequencing portion of the computer comprises an operatorcontrol panel 24 for selecting the particular mode in which the computeris to be operated; this will include a. item and quantity transac tions,b. readout of data from the memory drum such as item quantity totals,total number of transactions etc., and c. updating of prices, taxes etc.A hard wired processor control logic circuig 25 generates a series ofprogram step pulses or jump pulses depending on the current instructionand routes these program pulses to the appropriate location. A programaddress counter 26 is provided which functions as a register where theaddress of a current instruction word is recorded. Pulses from theprocessor control logic circuit 25 advace the program address counter by1 step or cause the program address counter to jump in the program. Ahard-wired, read-only-memory 27 converts an address output and breaksdown an instruction from the program address counter 26 into aninstruction word and forwards these words in sequence to an instructionregister 30 where they are held temporarily pending their execution. Ifthe command held in the instruction register is an addition command, itwill be accepted by the process control logic, decoded and thenforwarded to the adder. The remaining type of commands held in theinstruction register will be decoded in an operation decode portion 25Aof the processor control logic and be accepted in the coincidencecircuit for transmission (along with its coincident pulse word from thedata track) to the source and destination select 23 and thence to theregisters or the drum system.

The input/output (I/O) section of the computer includes an input-outputreceiver 31 which transmits pulses from a suitable input such as from aphotosense circuit or keyboard to the input-output (l/O) register 15 andcontrol character register 32. The latter stores data pulses from the1/0 receiver for transmission to an [/0 driver 33. The pulses from the1/0 register are sent to the source and destination select circuit 23.Driver 33 operates a printer (not shown) and a form reader ininput-output receiver 31. A poll counter is provided to determine if thecomputer is operating a given keyboard. When the computer time is free,the poll counter will activate the input-output driver to commenceoeprations on a specific keyboard. A program address register 34 isprovided to hold address words and transmit them to the program addresscounter 26 during an interrupt by an [/0 control logic. An inputoutputclocking circuit 35 synchronizes scanning cycles of the form reader,movement of the form through the reader, and printer actuation. Theclocking circuit also sequences the transfer of program addresses to theprogram address counter 26 from the program address register 34, andsynchronizes this transfer with the input pulses from the photosensecircuit. An input-output (l/O) control logic circuit 36 emits sequencedpulses to produce a program address in register 34; this address isdetermined by the respective setting in the operator passed along anoutlet fiber bundle 54 from each window to a photo sensor device. Ascanning circuit. in the photosensor, senses light (or no light) pulsesfrom each window in sequence. A slotted form guide 55 is procontrolpanel 24 for transaction, readout and update vided immediately adjacentthe light block and the inmOdES and y the Control Character g st 3 hdividual array of light windows are exposed along the processor controllogic circuit 25 and the HO control slotted portion of the guide. Aspring 56 is provided logic circuit 36 interchange data and interruptadalong the form guide 55. A form 57, which will be dedresses from theprogram add r glst ThUS. scribed in more detailsubsequently,is passedunder the program addresses from the program address register spring 56and in immediate proximity to the light win- 34 and data from thephotosense circuits or keyboard dows 51. The spring insures the form 57is as close as m the U0 i rs a timed y Clockmg uit 35 t possible to thearray oflight windows. A drive wheel 58 coincide in the source anddestination select circuit 23. i emplgyed to move h f rm k h f guide andThe routing of instruction words is shown in FIG. 2. ast the li htwindow ray. When light is passed along yp drum track locations, Computerregister an inlet fiber bundle 53, it will impinge on the white dlCSSBSand command COdS are shown In the fOllOWlflg surface 0f the form and bediffusgd along the form for table. 7 7 a short interval; it will thenreflect onto an outlet fiber TABLE 1 v 3 Drum il'illk h l ti'w-k 3% taxQ track zi lllrws llHlHlllllS address 00 00 0| s (ll 3:": ll ITl prlt-rs it1 11i quantity totals.

: 35 30 30 3T 37 (is as 3!! 3'! lll 'lxiit lirvuknoint Ki, lllJlJllHll ll ll K0 ll(' lfix llllllllll 11 4! K; 30" llliUllfiH i! 1:4 ita 5C 1m000000 -13 ll K: Rh'it lllltlllllll -li 4:7 1(- l:1.\' UUlXJZT l5 1Lliru .1 drawer totiils. 10 K1 i 10 1' 000080 -11; IT K.- 11 m 000000 17in Kt Ht" [11X ()Ollllfil] fill 10 K; 1 lax 000017 10 Till l'l0 XII laxr111 llOlItKlll ."ill .31 ll X1 l:l\ rutt INLBlKl-(l 51 lilzlllll tulul.3; 1'1; 3 l:1\ r1111 llllllltlll 5! 'lnxzilili' total. 33 ll't \3 t1i\'1.1M ltlfiltllll 53 Noutuxiililu total. 1i l'i'i Xi 10x mm 11101100 A;Total 10x. 5.] li'r, X7 tux lilit 11250011 5.: Transaction count. 1 10-.X0 m 1011 030000 mi 57 Pl, X7 tux mh 037111) 57 its llk Xs lat l'itltUltltllll) 5H liii'tial lax total. 'tl lln X11 luv i'iitr lllfiliml FillActive drawer. lill lllllKL'ill llOOlli'ill till 01 000001 000001 01 0.-01000 0-: 0'1 x21. 00 m 000000 03 0t K21 30 tax 11000651 64 0'- 1 2-, 0clux 000100 0a 00 K2.- Tc- 13A 000000 00 07 K2. lC lax 000020 117 011 K2140111! 0000101 00 00 K2 0(- lax 000000 011 Tl) Kflt Kc lax 000000 TllForever total. 71 K21 2c tux 000010 toiiipulvr rv iisti-i's (uiiiiiiiiudcodes (0 code) s1 .tvviiii'tx'roit 000i FETCH To A OR B ACCUM. 1 ii.\t(l.\l1'l..\']tll 0010 s'iom: FROM A OR is ACCUM. 11 1 ititiiis'iicit0011 now A-l-B s1 R r iiiitiis'ricii 0100 SlIlF'I" A AUCUM. l 11m'FFiiit 0101 wow INCREMENT 6+1 0110 DECC DECREMENT c1 s0 FORCED ADDRESS0111 1110' ENABLE 1 0 1000 no INTERROGAIE 1/0 1001 JUNC JUMPUNCONDlllONAL 1010 JEQ JUMP A 11 1011 JNEQ JUMP m n 1100 JLEQ JUMP ABi101 JCNEO JUMP o N()'I=ZERO i110 SUB AB 1111 CAL A:l;B (KEYSWITCII) Theform reader unit of this invention is shown schematically in FIGS. 3, 4and 5 and comprises a photo light block 50 having a plurality of lightwindows 51, a light source (not shown) and a housing 52. Each lightwindow is fed by an inlet optic fiber bundle 53 from the housing. Lightemitted by an individual window is bundle 54 and finally be transmittedto the photo sensor which will convert the light to a zero signal.However, if the portion of the form adjacent the light window has beenmarked with a black or dark pencil, light will not be diffused along theform immediately adjacent the window; hence, no light will betransmitted

1. A digital computer for recording and calculating transaction data onan input-output form bearing clock lines and corresponding rows of datablocks containing data marks comprising: means to feed the formcontaining the data into a form reader; means to scan a row of blocksadjacent clock lines on the form for quantity of an item and price datauntil a data mark in a row of blocks corresponding to a clock line issensed; means to stop the form for a time interval; memory means forstoring sensed data; means to continue the form feeding and the scan,stop data storage for each succeeding row of blocks corresponding to aclock line until all the data have been sensed; means to calculatequantity and price transactions and for storing the results of thetransaction in the memory; and means to print the data printout and thetotal transaction calculation on the form.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1,including means for printing quantity, price and quantity x price dataonto the form.